176 MARINE PRODUCTS OF COMMERCE 



The Geographical and Vertical Distribution of Some Commercially Important 

 Fishes of the United States 



The vast majority of common food fishes live near the shore or at least come 

 near the shore at certain seasons. Many enter harbors, bays, inlets, and estuaries 

 as soon as the weather is warm, and remain only until autimin. These shallow 

 waters are sought because they are good feeding grounds during the warmer 

 seasons. Other fish enter fresh-water streams to spawn, then die or retiim to the 

 sea. Still others, rarely, if ever, approach the shore, but occupy oflFshore banks 

 where the water is of a more uniform temperature throughout the year. 



Some species live chiefly at the smface, and are said to be "pelagic"; others 

 remain more or less constantly on the bottom, and are called "ground fish"; and 

 still others dwell at various depths between the surface and the bottom. A strong 

 correlation seems to exist between the usual abode of fish and the type of food 

 they require. Fish, like many other animals, live to eat. Therefore, they may be 

 expected to dwell where the richest pastures are, except perhaps as the urge to 

 spawn causes them to go elsewhere for a period of time. Fish may also be ex- 

 pected to follow to some extent their food source. Thus, if schools of small fish, 

 such as anchovies and small herring, are present, the fisherman expects to find 

 bluefish. If small shrimp (Mysis) are present in abundance, the fisherman expects 

 Spanish mackerel. In other words, the species named, and many others, migrate 

 at least to some extent to find food. This explains, in a measure, why fish may be 

 abundant in an area one year and scarce the next. 



Among the common commercial species that more or less regularly dwell on 

 the bottom of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States are flatfish and 

 flounders. Of this group several species are present off the coast of every state 

 from Maine to Texas, although no single species has such a wide range. The 

 common croaker, which ranges from Massachusetts to Texas, is another of the 

 groimd fish. To this group belong the whitings, also known as king whiting, king- 

 fish, sea mink, and sea mullet (Menticirrhus) . Of this genus at least one species 

 is present along the coast from Cape Cod to Texas. The red drum, also known as 

 redfish and channel bass, with a range extending all the way from Massachusetts 

 to Texas, may also be classed as dwelling chiefly on the bottom. 



The pelagic fishes are represented by the common Atlantic herring, menhadens, 

 mackerels, mackerel-like fishes, and several others. The Atlantic herring, which 

 sometimes is considered the most valuable fish in the world, occurs on both coasts 

 of the North Atlantic and ranges south to Cape Hatteras on the United States 

 coast. The menhadens, which are represented by 2 species on the Atlantic and 

 2 on the Gulf Coast, range all the way from Nova Scotia to Texas, exclusive of 

 southern Florida. The menhadens are perhaps the most abundant of our marine 

 fishes. Although they are used sparingly as food, large quantities are reduced to 

 oil, stock feed, and fertilizer. The mackerel are represented by several species, in- 

 cluding the northern mackerel, Scomber scombrus, which occurs on both coasts 

 of the North Atlantic and range from Labrador to Cape Hatteras, and the Spanish 

 mackerel, cero, and king mackerel (Scomberomorus) which extends from Maine 

 to Brazil. The tunas, prized chiefly as a sport fish on the Atlantic Coast, also be- 

 long to the mackerels. They are represented by at least 3 species, one or more 

 being present from Newfoundland to the tropical seas. Swordfish, marlins, and 



